Power Minerals has engaged gallium refining technology developer Gega Elements to develop an extraction strategy for its Santa Anna niobium-REE-gallium project in Brazil.
Gallium is a key input in semiconductors, defence electronics, and advanced communications, and is classed as a critical mineral by many countries due to its strategic importance.
China currently produces about 98% of the global supply of gallium, and China’s recent export ban has driven gallium prices up to US$1275/kg.
In response, governments – including Australia and the US – are seeking alternative supply. The Australian Government recently allocated funding of around US$200m to support a 100tpa gallium facility in Western Australia backed by Alcoa, Sojitz and a US Government offtake arrangement.
Gega Elements is developing advanced gallium refining solutions, aiming to create a cost-effective, environmentally responsible, and sovereign-controlled processing pathway – one that could establish Australia’s first domestic gallium production capability.
The arrangement with Gega is part of Power Minerals’ strategy to develop a vertically integrated gallium extraction and refining capability.
The initial step of metallurgical testing will now commence on the project’s samples of high-grade ore containing gallium, which will allow Gega to develop an extraction flowsheet.